Otavite is a rare cadmium carbonate mineral with the formula CdCO3. Otavite crystallizes in the trigonal system and forms encrustations and small scalenohedral crystals that have a pearly to adamantine luster. The color is white to reddish to yellow brown. Its Mohs hardness is 3.5 to 4 and the specific gravity is 5.04. Associated minerals include azurite, calcite, malachite, and smithsonite.
| Otavite | |
|---|---|
 Otavite, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia | |
| General | |
| Category | Carbonate minerals |
| Formula (repeating unit) | CdCO3 |
| IMA symbol | Ota[1] |
| Strunz classification | 5.AB.05 |
| Crystal system | Trigonal |
| Crystal class | Hexagonal scalenohedral (3m) H-M symbol: (3 2/m) |
| Space group | R3c |
It was first described in 1906 from the Tsumeb district near Otavi, Namibia.
References
edit- ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
- Mindat locality data
- Webmineral
- Mineral galleries Archived 2005-10-29 at the Wayback Machine